Saturday, June 27, 2009

Belen schools to start one week early

Brent Ruffner News-Bulletin Staff Writer; bruffner@news-bulletin.com

Belen The Belen Consolidated School District announced Wednesday that classes will start one week early this year in order to fix a calendar error that would have delayed paychecks for hundreds of employees.

All students and teachers in the district will report to classes on Wednesday, Aug.12, instead of the previous announced date of Aug. 19.

Superintendent Patricia Rael said she made the decision to quickly resolve the problem, despite union representatives' attempts for alternative solutions. Two union representatives said they had suggested that employees receive partial checks instead of starting a week earlier.

All 180-day employees will now be paid on Aug. 28. School will end on May 21, a week earlier than previously scheduled.

"It was crucial to do this right away," Rael said. "There were some employees that were placed in financial hardships."

Last month, those employees received word they would not receive their August payroll checks until Sept. 4 because of the district's calendar committee's decision to start their contract year a week later.

Rael, who sent out a letter to employees about the issue this week, wrote that her decision was made after "every possible solution was sought and considered." She said she hopes the solution would benefit everyone involved, especially with a limited finance staff.

" No one anticipated this dilemma," Rael said. "But there are 700 plus employees, and we have 1.5 people who do payroll. We just couldn't set up two different paydays."

Rael said she hopes the decision will be beneficial for everyone involved.

"My desire is to have some resolution that gives employees what they need," Rael said. "I'm hoping it's a good compromise for everyone."

Over the past two weeks, employees have voiced displeasure at regular board meetings about the possibility of receiving late paychecks. Other pay options included employees receiving partial paychecks or receiving an extra pay period the first week of school.

School Board President Jamie Goldberg said he doesn't agree with the administration's decision to move the school date back.

"This affects 400 families," Goldberg said. "But you make whatever adjustments you have to."

Employee representatives aren't satisfied with the superintendent's decision either.

"I'm not happy with it," said Santiago Montoya, president of the Belen Federation of School Employees.

"I don't know if this is the best solution. I think the better solution is to pay (the 180-day employees partial checks.)"

Montoya, who represents some of those employees including cafeteria workers and instructional assistants, said he will move forward with a grievance he's filed against the district over the issue. Previously, Montoya said he was considering withdrawing the grievance after the school board said they would resolve the issue.

"A lot of people made plans," Montoya said. "(The calendar committee) voted on a calendar, the administration should stick to that."

Montoya added that he thinks the district's administration should have worked to get employees partial pay. He said the finance department already has to pay employees their summertime checks on June 30.

"(The finance department) has to do more work for that," Montoya said. "Why can't they do it again?"

Donna Stromei, president of the National Education Association-Belen, said she is glad the district has corrected the problem.

"I'm not real happy with the outcome," Stromei said. "But something had to be done. I'm thankful they did something for us."

But Goldberg said the mishap shouldn't happen again. He said the board will push for school to start at the same each year.

"It's extremely important," Goldberg said. "We want to make the start time the same week in August so there's no question that pay days will be on time."

The Federation of School Employees will meet at 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, at the district's maintenance shop on Lopez Road and N.M. 314, discuss the calendar error issue.

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